Bruins pleased with their four-line rotation

It has taken some time, but the Bruins have settled on four forward lines. The pre-existing Merlot Line provides energy; the other three groups can all score goals and prevent them.

Mike Loftus The Patriot Ledger

WILMINGTON – They can’t catch a break on defense these days. With Dennis Seidenberg unable to play until next season after major knee surgery and Adam McQuaid unable to overcome a leg injury that has sidelined him three times (27 games lost and counting), the Bruins are using a much younger defense corps than envisioned.

No problems up front, though. The B’s, in fact, may be taking their strongest four-line rotation since the 2011 Stanley Cup run into this year’s stretch drive, which continues this weekend against Washington (1:05 p.m. Saturday, NESN, WBZ-FM/98.5) and at the New York Rangers (7:05 p.m. Sunday, NBC Sports Network, WBZ-FM/98.5).

“That’s what we take a lot of pride in – having a solid lineup all the way through,” said winger Brad Marchand, the second-line staple who leads the Bruins with 20 goals. “We want to make sure that all our lines can play against anyone and I think we’ve done a really good job of that so far this year.”

Offseason transactions left the B’s with only their famed Merlot Line (Daniel Paille, Gregory Campbell, Shawn Thornton) intact and, while they acquired enough forwards to cover for the departures of Nathan Horton, Tyler Seguin and Rich Peverley, it has taken a while for the new lines to mesh.

Jarome Iginla, as anticipated, proved a relatively quick fit with Milan Lucic and David Krejci, but injuries kept newcomer Loui Eriksson from transitioning smoothly onto the Marchand-Patrice Bergeron unit, and there were all kinds of issues with the third line. Carl Soderberg, a last-minute addition last season, had to learn a new league and play slightly out of position. Chris Kelly broke a bone in his leg in early December and missed 22 games. There was no obvious choice at right wing, although first-year Bruin Reilly Smith seemed to have the inside track.

Smith (43 points; third on the scoring list) has worked so well with Marchand and Bergeron that coach Claude Julien has kept him there, and Kelly’s return on Jan. 28 has finally filled out a cohesive third line: Kelly has moved from center to left wing, Soderberg from left wing to center, and Eriksson has settled in at right wing.

“If you look at how they’ve played, how they’ve produced and performed, I’d have to say I’m pretty happy with that line,” Julien said. “It’s given us three solid scoring lines and we’ve got that (Merlot) energy line that’s always going to be there for us.

“It’s kind of what we wanted and now we’ve got it.”

Perhaps the best thing about the current setup is that each of the top three lines is as defensively responsible as it is offensively capable.

Smith is a defensive upgrade over Tyler Seguin, who spent two seasons with with Marchand and Bergeron, but also productive. Eriksson, penciled onto the Bergeron-Marchand unit when he and Smith arrived from Dallas in exchange for Seguin and long-time Kelly linemate Rich Peverley, has instead thrived with Kelly and Soderberg, a fellow Swede.

“I’ve played on some good lines here,” said Kelly, a trade-deadline acquisition in 2011 who jelled with Peverley and Michael Ryder in the playoffs. “I’ve been extremely fortunate to play with a lot of good players – this year, too.

“Now, all four lines have been playing well. That’s what’s given us success in the past – having four balanced lines that can play all three zones and contribute in all three zones.”

AROUND THE BOARDS

McQuaid, who had participated in post-Olympics practices since last Thursday, didn’t skate Friday after a scheduled day off. “They felt there was a bit of a setback,” Julien said. “So it becomes day-to-day, week-to-week, month-to-month – I’m not sure anymore. Hopefully, we’ll get some better news in the next few days.” McQuaid, first injured on Nov. 9, re-injured his leg on Nov. 30 and again on Jan. 19.

Mike Loftus may be reached at mloftus@ledger.com or follow on Twitter @MLoftus_Ledger.

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